Photo/Illutration White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shows a letter on tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7. (REUTERS)

The deadline for negotiations over reciprocal tariffs unilaterally imposed by the United States on almost all nations and regions, including Japan, has, in effect, been extended until Aug. 1.

The negotiations have not gone as smoothly as the aggressive U.S. President Donald Trump has hoped for, with only a few nations, such as Britain, having reached a deal with Washington.

The government must continue to ask for a retraction of the high tariffs without making an easy compromise.

On July 7, Trump posted on social media the letter he sent to 14 nations, including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and South Africa, in which he announced the reciprocal tariffs that had been temporarily suspended would be imposed from Aug. 1.

Along with the base 10-percent tariff imposed on all nations, the additional measure would raise the rate to between 25 and 40 percent.

Japan would have imposed on it a 25-percent tariff, higher than the 24-percent proposal made in April.

At the same time, Trump said he was prepared to revise the contents of the letter if a nation intended to abolish trade barriers. He extended the deadline for tariff negotiations from July 9.

Immediately after Washington announced the reciprocal tariffs in April, it temporarily suspended the additional rate for each nation to allow for separate negotiations.

Initially, Peter Navarro, a Trump adviser, said that he expected 90 deals in 90 days. But there have been few agreements reached.

The imposition of and temporary halt to the higher tariffs, as well as setting the negotiation deadline, were all determined arbitrarily by the United States.

It was to be expected that many nations could not accept a self-righteous request that violated trade rules and would have a major impact on their economies.

The United States must face the reality that its intimidation tactics will not work and retract the tariff measures, including the 25-percent tariff on automobile imports and the 50-percent one on steel and aluminum already imposed.

The minister in charge of tariff negotiations has visited the United States seven times and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also stated Japan’s case in a summit with Trump.

But the United States has not responded to calls for a review of the tariffs on automobiles, which Ishiba has described as being a major national interest, and no agreement has been reached.

The stance by Washington of belittling the close alliance relationship with Japan in terms of both the economy and national security is extremely regrettable.

Japan has no choice but to continue trying to convince Washington while not wavering and being prepared for extended negotiations.

Ishiba has emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Japan were completely different from those of other nations since it has made a large contribution in increasing jobs in the United States as its largest investor nation.

But there may be a need to rethink whether the strategy of asking to have Japan treated in a special manner is appropriate.

There will also be a need to strengthen cooperation with the nations of Southeast Asia and Europe that are also facing difficulties with the high tariffs imposed by the United States.

Japanese automakers increased their inventory in the United States prior to the imposition of the tariff and tried to limit the negative effects on U.S. sales by shouldering the burden of the higher tariff.

But that inventory is about to be depleted.

The government must accelerate consideration of further support measures for the auto industry as one way of preparing for the continuation of higher tariffs.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 9

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